Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 0 Liverpool
Lucas Bergvall’s first goal for Tottenham Hotspur secured a crucial 1-0 victory over defending champions Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Swedish midfielder struck a brilliant finish past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson in the 86th minute, giving the injury-hit hosts a hard-fought win. Earlier in the match, a Dominic Solanke goal for Liverpool was ruled out by VAR, adding to the drama of the night.
Liverpool, who claimed their 10th League Cup title last season by defeating Chelsea, looked far from their best. Their 24-match unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an end, though many Liverpool players and staff believed Bergvall should have received a second yellow card just before scoring his decisive goal.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool side suffered only their second defeat of the season but remain optimistic about overturning the result in the second leg at Anfield next month.
In the other semifinal, Newcastle United earned a commanding 2-0 away win over Arsenal on Tuesday.
Tottenham’s Hard-Fought Victory
Tottenham entered the match with only three wins in their previous 14 games across all competitions, with manager Ange Postecoglou’s squad heavily impacted by injuries. When midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off early after a nasty fall, the outlook seemed grim for the hosts, who also handed a debut to new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Liverpool, who had comfortably defeated Tottenham 6-3 in the Premier League before Christmas, appeared sluggish for much of the match, despite ending both halves with strong bursts of energy.
Bergvall’s heroics offered sweet revenge for Tottenham, showcasing why the young Swede is so highly regarded. Postecoglou, who has previously claimed he always wins silverware in his second season at a club, found his position under increasing scrutiny after recent poor results. But with this victory, the dream of Tottenham’s first trophy since the 2008 League Cup feels closer, and fans serenaded Postecoglou at the final whistle.
Match Highlights
Tottenham created the better chances in the first half, with Radu Dragusin’s early effort saved by Alisson and Solanke narrowly missing a cross from Son Heung-Min. The game was briefly halted due to Bentancur’s injury.
Liverpool’s star Mohamed Salah had a subdued game, with his lone effort going wide. Meanwhile, Kinsky had a scare when Cody Gakpo’s shot almost slipped under his body.
Early in the second half, Alisson nearly handed Tottenham the lead when Bergvall dispossessed him and set up Pedro Porro, whose two attempts—one blocked by Virgil van Dijk and the other clipped wide of an open goal—left Postecoglou visibly frustrated on the sidelines.
Liverpool came close to breaking the deadlock when substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot was cleared off the line by Dragusin. Moments later, Solanke’s goal for Liverpool was disallowed by VAR, with referee Stuart Attwell becoming the first in England to announce the decision directly to the crowd.
Tottenham refused to be denied, and in the 86th minute, Bergvall’s brilliant strike sent the home fans into a frenzy. The goal came after excellent work from Solanke, securing a vital lead for the hosts heading into the second leg.
The tie remains finely poised, with all eyes now on Anfield for what promises to be an intense return leg.
